Electric signal for railways.



Patented Dei. 3; I899.

T. PATHALL. ELEGTRIDSIGNAL FDR RAILWAYS.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 18919.v

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 634,023. I Patented Oct. 3, i899.

T. H. PATENALL.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL F08 RMLWAYS.

(Application flied Jan. 17, 1899.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

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No. 634,023,. I Patented Oct. 3, I899.

Ti a-PAT-ENALL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL FUR RIAILWAYS.

(Application filed Inn. 17, 1899.) I No Iodel.) 3 $heets-Sheet 3.

Y U ITE STATES {PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. PATENALL, or EASTON, r' NsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAlLWAY S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,023, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed January 17, 1899. Serial No. 702.401 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. PATENALL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, (but having formally declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented n ew and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electriealiy-operated signals for block system on railways and its object is to provide an improvedconstruct-ion of the same whereby the semaphore or other signal is set to danger automatic-' ally as a train enters a block-section and reinvention, showing the semaphore elevatedv or set to danger to indicate that the track is closed, and also showing a railway-track in diagrammatic view. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the semaphore lowered so as to show that the track is open or clear. Fig. 3 is a plan View, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a vertical section on the line a: as, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the disengaging-dog.

In the said drawingsthe reference-numer-" als 1 and 1 designate the rails of a railwaytrack, forming conductors by which an elec tric circuit is closed and opened between the same and an electroinagnet hereinafter described, and which rails areelectrically connected with a battery 2 at the rear end of each block-section by conductors 2 and 2". The numeral 3 designates a post located in the vicinity of the said rails, there being one at the front end of each block-section. Se-

cured to the upper end of this post is a bracket 4, formed with a laterally-extending arm 5, the outer end of which is curved downwardly and forms a bearing for a shaft 6, to one end of which is fixed a semaphore arm or blade 7, provided with a spectacle 8, as is usual.

' Secured to the opposite end of this shaft is a disk 9,'which is rotated therewith. Loosely journaled on this disk is a worm-wheel 10, consisting of an annular ring provided with peripheral WQrm teeth 12 and with interior serrations or teeth 13 fora purpose hereinafter described. wheel isa worm-gear 13, secured to the outer end of a horizontal shaft 14, which is journaled in bearings 15, secured, respectively, to thebracket 4 and its arm 5. At the opposite end said shaft is provided with a wormwheel 16, which meshes with a worm-gear 17, secured to the armature-shaft 18 of an electric motor 19 of any suitable construction carried by said bracket 4.

Loosely journaled on the end of the shaft 6, adjacent to the disk 9, isa lever 20, the upper end of which is formed with a cam 21, which is adapted to engage with the inner end of a radially-movable block or dog 23. This dog consists of a rectangular block of metal provided with an elongated slot 24, through which passes a headed pin 25, secured'to the disk 9. This dog works between guide-piiis 26, secured to said disk, and at its outer end is provided with a roller v27, which is adapted to engage with the serrations or teeth 13 of the worm-wheel 10. To the outer face of said disk is-seenred an arm 28, carryingan electromagnet 29, for attracting the lever 20 and holding the dog in engagement With the teeth or serrations 13, as hereinafter described. -Upon its. inner face said disk 9 "is provided with a lug 30 'for automatically breaking the circuit between the motor and its battery when said disk is rotated by the movement of the semaphore blade or arm and the worm-wheel 10.

The numeral 31 designates a motor-battery, the positive pole of which is connected with the said motor by a conductor 32. The negative pole of this battery is connected by a conductor 34 with the armature 35 of the electromagnet 36, located at the lower end of the post 3, and which magnet is electrically connected with the rails l by conductors 37 and 37. The upper end of the armature 35 is provided with a contact-piece 38, adapted when the electromagnet 37 is energized to make electrical connection with a circuit-breaker consisting of the spring contact-arms 39 and 40.

Meshing with said worm-v One of these arms 39 is connected by a conductor 41 with a contact-arm 42, provided,

with a contact-pin 43, adapted to contact with a spring-arm 45, one end of which projects beyond the end of the contact-arm 42 an d lies in the path of the log 30. This arm 45 is connected by a conductor 40 with a motor 19. The contact-arm 40 is connected by a con ductor 47 with the electromagnet 29, which is connected by a wire or conductor 48 with a battery 49, which I term the disengagingbattery. This battery is connected by conductor 50 with the conductor 34.

a The operation is as follows: Supposing a train to be in block-section marked Section No. l and approaching section marked Section No. 2 and the semaphore set for clear, as seen in Fig. 2. In such position the mo tor will be stopped as the circuit between it and the motor-battery 31 will be broken by reason of the lug 3O raising the spring eontact-arm 45 out of contact with the contact pin of contact-arm 42; but the disengagingcircuit will be closed, attracting the lever 4 to electromagnet 29, so that the dog 23 will be forced into engagement with one of the inner teeth or serrations of the worm-wheel 10, which being held stationary by its connections with the motor the semaphore will be held in its clear position. This disengaging-circuit is as follows: from battery 2 through positive conductor 2 to rail 1, positive conductor 37 to electromagnet 36, and from thence through negative conductor 37, rail 1, and conductor 2" back to battery. This will cause the armature to be attracted to the magnet 36, making the circuit from the disengaging-battery as follows: from battery 49, conductor 48, electromagnet 29, conductor 47, contact-point 40, contact-piece 3S, armature 35, conductors 34 and 50 back to battery 49. As the train leaves section No. l and enters section No. 2 said disengaging-circuit will be shunted and a new circuit established, as follows: from battery 2, conductor 2, rail 1, the wheels and axle of the train, rail 1, and conductor 2 back to battery. This will shunt or cut out battery 2 from the electromagnet 36, denergizing the latter, so that the armature 35 will fall away from the said electromagnet, breaking the circuit between the said armature and the contact-arms 39 and 40 and deenergizing electromagnet 29. The lever 20 will now fall by gravity to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, so that its cam will release the dog 23. The weight on inner end of the semaphore will cause the semaphore or blade to assume the horizontal or danger points, rotating the disk 9, the dog riding over the teeth or serrations of the worm-wheel 10, which remains stationary until the semaphore and disk assume the positions shown in Fig. 1. When the said disk has assumed this position, the lever 20 will again fall back by gravity into contact with the magnet 29, but will not be attracted thereto, as the circuit is broken, as above described. As the train leaves section No. 2 and enters the next adjoining section a circuit will be established from battery 2 to electromagnet 36, energizingthelatter,whereby the armature 35 will be attracted thereto and brought into electrical connection with the contact-arms 39 and 40. This will make the disengaging-circuit as follows: from battery 49, conductor 48, electromagnet 29, conductor 47, contact-arm 40, armature 35, and conductors 34 and back to battery. This will cause the lever 20 to be held to magnet 29 and the dog 23 to be held in engagement with the worm-wheel 10, locking the'latter to the disk 9. At the same time the motor-circuit will be established as follows: from battery 31 and conductor to motor 19, and from thence by conductor 46, spring-contact 45, contactpin 43, contactarm 42, conductor 41, arm 39, armature 35, and conductor 34 back to battery. This will set the motor in operation, and through the worm-gears and worm-wheel the worm-wheel 10 will be rotated, which being locked to the disk by means of the dog 23 and lever 20 will rotate the disk 9 and its shaft and the semaphore arm or blade secured to the latter until the parts assume the clear position shown in Fig. 1, the lug 3O striking the contact-arm 45 and breaking the motorcircuit. The parts will now remain in the position shown in said Fig. 1 until another train comes into section No. 2, when the operation will be repeated. The semaphore arm is pivotally connected with the said bracket-arm near the center of gravity with the inner end slightly the heavier, so as to move the same to the dangerlposition when the disengaging mechanism is released. this means it requires but little battery power to operate said semaphore-arm.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an electrical signal for block system on railways, the combination with the oscillating semaphore-arm, the electric motor, the worm-gear on the armature-shaft thereof, the shaft having a worm-wheel on one end and engaging with said gear and the worm-gear at the other end thereof, the loose gear meshing with said last-mentioned gear, and the disk.

connected with said semaphore-arm upon which said loose gear is journaled and the lug carried by said disk, of the motor-battery, the conductor connected therewith and with the motor, the return-conductor connected with the motor, the'spring contact-arm, with which said lug is adapted to engage, the contact-arm with which said spring-arm is adapted to engage, the conductor connected therewith and the armature adapted to be electrically connected with said conductor, the conductor connecting the same with said battery, the track-battery and means for electrically engaging and disengaging said disk and said loose worm-wheel, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical signal for block system on railways, the combination with the oscillatory semaphore-arm, the motor-battery, the

J I 634,023 7 I 3 electric motor and connections therewith, the worm-gear on the armature-shaft of the motor, the shaft having a worm-wheel on .one end engaging with said gear and the worm-gear at the other end thereof, of the disk connected with said semaphore-arm, the WOIIIl WhGGl jonrnaled thereon, having interior teeth or serrations, the movable dog carried by said disk and the electrically-controlled lever for holding said dog in engagement with the serrations or teeth of said worm-wheel, substantially as described.

3. In an electrical signal for block system on railways, the combination with the oscillatory semaphore-arm, the electric motor, the battery, the connections between said battery and motor, the worm-gear on the armatureshaft of the motor, the shaft having a wormwheel engaging therewith,.and the wormgear at the other end of said shaft, of the disk connected and movable with said semaphore-arm, the worm-wheel journaled thereon having interior teeth or serrations, the headed pin carried by said disk, the movable dog having an elongated slot through which said pin passes, the guide-pins, and the electrically-controlled cam-lever engaging with said dog, substantial] y as described.

4. In an electric signal for block system on railways, the combinatihn with the oscillatory semaphore-arm, the electric motor, the battery, the connections between said battery and motor, the circuit-breaker comprising the contact-arm provided with a contact-pin, and the spring contact-arm, of the worm-gear on the armature-shaft of the motor, the horizon tal shaft, the worm-wheel at one end thereof, the worm-gear at the other end, the disk connected and movable with said semaphore-arm, the worm-wheel journaled thereon having interior teeth or serrations, the movable dog carried by said disk, the electrically-controlled cam-lever, and the lug carried by said disk forbrealring the circuit be:

tween said motor and its battery, snbstan-' tially as described.

5. In an electric signal for block system on railways, the combination with the rails, the battery electrically connected therewith, the electromagnet also electrically connected with said rails, the armature thereof provided with a contact-pin, the motor-battery with which said magnet is connected, the motor connected with said battery, and the conductor connected therewith provided with a spring contact-arm, the contact-arm provided with a contact-piece adapted to contact therewith, the conductor connected with said lastmentioned contact-arm, and the contact-arm connected therewith with which the contactpiece of the armature is adapted to contact, of the worm-gear on the armature-shaft of the motor, the horizontal shaft having a wormwheel at one end and a worm-gear at the other end, the worm-wheel having interior teeth or serrations, the oscillatory semaphore; the disk connected therewith, on which said last-mentioned worm-wheel is journaled, the movable dog carried by said disk, the camlever, the lug secured to said disk, the electromagnet carried by said disk, the disengaging-battery, the conductor connecting the same, the return-conductor provided with a contact-arm with which the armature of the first-described electromagnet is adapted to make electrical connection and the conductor connecting said disengaging-battery and armature, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, THOMAS H. PATENALL.

Witnesses:

R. A. STOTZ, GEO. F. COFFIN. 

